Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 1

As limber as Harold Lloyd yet as lovable as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, Lupino Lane (1892-1959) was born Henry William George Lupino in London. During the heyday of silent comedy shorts, he headlined the popular series of "Lupino Lane Comedies" produced by Educational Pictures ("The Spice of the Program"). He often appeared with younger brother Wallace Lupino and directed many of these shorts (sometimes under the name "Henry W. George"), while others were directed by prolific comedy specialist Charles Lamont.

FANDANGO (1928): In the country of Bullonia, "The Lonesomest Man in Town" will win the girl of his dreams - if he can survive a climactic bullfight. Directed by Lupino Lane.

MAID IN MOROCCO (1925): While on his honeymoon, the groom runs afoul of the Caliph of Ginfez - who has 200 wives and wants to add the bride to his harem! Directed by Charles Lamont.

NAUGHTY BOY (1927): Young Johnny Jones agrees to pose as a small boy to help his father land a new wife. Directed by Charles Lamont.

ROAMING ROMEO (1928): Lupino Lane plays an escaped Roman slave who becomes the unlikeliest centurion in history when he finds himself battling gladiators. Directed by Henry W. George (Lupino Lane).

WHO'S AFRAID? (1927): After being locked in a museum overnight, timid Claude Chutney not only proves his manhood by battling an alligator, but winds up a hero when he nabs a wanted criminal. Directed By Charles Lamont.

PURELY CIRCUMSTANTIAL (1929): In one of Lupino Lane's early sound comedy shorts, he portrays Orville, a twitchy groom on his honeymoon. Directed by Lupino Lane.

Dynamite -- Universal's answer to Warner Bros.' canine star Rin Tin Tin -- and his owner Jerry Matthews (Edmund Cobb) come to the aid of a beleaguered rancher in this typical low-budget "doggie melodrama" set in the West. They are hired by Colonel Shelby (George Periolat) to replace Hank Mitchell (Carl Sepulveda), a ranch hand suspected of being in the employ of greedy neighbor Thomas Shields (Al Ferguson). The latter is plotting with a gang of rustlers to drive the colonel and his daughter Rose (Betty Caldwell) off their property, which, as Dynamite accidentally discovers, contains oil. When Jerry is caught by Shields and his henchmen, Dynamite goes into action, saving not only his master but the entire Shelby ranch. Leading man Edmund Cobb, whose amazing Western career would span six decades, later played innumerable villains, townsmen, and even sidekicks, almost always with the same tightlipped, unruffled mien. Dynamite, in contrast, retired still relatively young in 1928.